Question

During a nursing assessment, the client states he is 70 years old and has a history of staphylococcus infections, increased intraocular pressure, and blurred vision. The nurse concludes that which item reported by the client is a risk factor for the development of cataracts?

1. History of staphylococcus infections
2. Increased intraocular pressure
3. Stated age of client
4. Long duration of blurred vision

Answer 1

The client's age of 70 is a significant risk factor for the development of cataracts, as the prevalence of cataracts increases significantly with age.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client's stated age of 70 is a risk factor for the development of cataracts. Statistics show that age is heavily correlated with the incidence of cataracts, as 60% of individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 will develop this condition. Cataracts consist of a clouding in the eye's lens, leading to a loss of vision, and are primarily age-related rather than caused by factors like a history of staphylococcus infections or increased intraocular pressure. These other factors are related to other eye conditions, such as glaucoma or bacterial infections of the eye, but they do not directly influence cataract formation as age does.